Compare towns
Bennington vs Castleton vs Hampton vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Springfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bennington | Castleton | Hampton | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
4,453 |
1,145Lowest |
9,084 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Highest 15% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Bennington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 36% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513 45% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #58 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | — | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 14.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.